History of the peloponnesian war american university of. The peloponnesian war was really three conflicts 431421, 4154, and 4404 bce that thucydides was still unifying into one account when he died some time before 396 bce. Thucydides wrote in an impartial manner which was original for the time of writing, which gained him the reputation for developing the inquiry of scientific history. Kagans thesis is that thucydides revised the thinking thucydides wrote a history of the peloponnesian war between athens and sparta and is widely credited as the first modern historian. Dont mistake this for some antique text that is full of the romantic past, if you changed the people and place names it could have been written last week. Thucydides, history of the peloponnesian war, book intro. The history of the peloponnesian war is his only work in existence. The history of the peloponnesian war, by thucydides 431 bc.
Designed to introduce both students and general readers to a work that is an essential part of a liberal education, this book seeks to encourage readers to explore thucydides one of the worlds greatest historians for themselves. After his death, thucydidess history was subdivided into eight books. Feb 03, 20 history of the peloponnesian war book 6. And the winter ended, and with it ended the sixteenth year of this war of which thucydides is the historian. The narrative qualities of thucydides s historical account.
The history of the peloponnesian war by thucydides, paperback. Ten years into the struggle, the athenian general thucydides was dismissed for a military failure that led to a triumph for posterity. Oct 24, 2019 herodotus was a greek writer and geographer credited with being the first historian. One of the greatest ancient historians, thucydides c. History of the peloponnesian war essays are academic essays for citation. His work was the first recorded political and moral analysis of a nations war policies. Thucydides, history of the peloponnesian war thomas hobbes, ed. Over the past half century, thucydides writings on the peloponnesian war have helped strategists relate lessons from ancient greece to modern conflicts such as the cold war. He uses this plague as a means to suggest that war teaches violence. When a closer examination of the book disclosed passages which seemed to show that, at least at one time, thucydides did.
Auto suggestions are available once you type at least 3 letters. This brings me to my first point about appropriately using thucydides history. Jun 12, 2017 thucydidess history of the peloponnesian war breaks off before the story is over. We can only examine what thucydides himself tells us in his history. The history of the peloponnesian war by thucydides, part of the internet classics archive. Perez zagorin answers this question by examining thucydides landmark history of the peloponnesian war, one of the great classics of western civilization.
Some historians consider the hellenica to be a personal work, written by xenophon in retirement on his spartan estate. Thucydides, an athenian, wrote the history of the wa. There are also a fair number of contemporary documents recorded on stone, most of which confirm his account both in general and in detail. Altogether the war lasted twentyseven years, for if which the truce continued should. The average reader will not be able to place a great many of the cities zagorin mentions. Selections from the history of the peloponnesian war, and more on. I think his statements reveal both professional and personal motivations. Thucydides book 1 summary the peloponnesian war an. Thucydides s most popular book is history of the peloponnesian war. The book was written by thucydides while in exile during the war and his based on his research as well.
Read the fulltext online edition of the history of the peloponnesian war 1950. Selfcontrol is the chief element in selfrespect, and selfrespect is the chief element in courage. Chapter xviii seventeenth year of the war the sicilian campaign affair of the hermae departure of the expedition the same winter the athenians resolved to sail again to sicily, with a greater armament than that under laches and eurymedon, and, if possible, to conquer the island. History of the peloponnesian war, volume iv thucydides.
Presidents, members of congress, admirals and generals, foreign policy and national security professionals, scholars, and news commentators invoke his name and refer reverently to his history as offering ancient wisdom on politics, ethics, strategy, and war. Thucydides was a historian who is famous for writing about the history of the. Thucydides has been dubbed the father of scientific history due to his strict standards of evidence. Thucydides explores many themes within his work, the history of the peloponnesian war. In his opening lines, thucydides says he wrote about the peloponnesian war between athens and sparta, beginning at the moment that it broke. Questia read the fulltext online edition of the history of the peloponnesian war 1950. There is the silent testimony of the three historians who began where he. The history of the peloponnesian war by thucydides. He is one of the most famous war historians of all time, and his book has been. Thucydides compelling vision of the peloponnesian war, with its meticulously delineated causes, combatants, and alliances, make it easy to find parallels later in history, right up to the present day. Indeed, while reading his history of the peloponnesian war, it is not hard to see how so many theorists have appropriated his work as an example of the everlasting realist qualities inherent in politics. For the principal and proper work of history being to instruct and. Donald kagans magisterial history of the peloponnesian war is recognized as a.
Thucydides therefore, that he might not be either of them that committed or of them that suffered the evil, forbore to come into the assemblies. Your book, how to think about war, is an excellent introduction to thucydides and his history of the peloponnesian war. Best books on ancient greek history and literature. Accordingly, professors of antiquity, international relations, military history, and political philosophy continue to list it on their syllabi. Accordingly, professors of antiquity, international relations, military history. Thucydides wrote the story of the first democracy in history, and of the fortunes and fall of its empire, but his pages contain the modern worldscene in miniature. Thucydides, an athenian, wrote the history of the war between the peloponnesians and the athenians, beginning at the moment that it broke out, and believing that it would be a great war and more worthy of relation than any that had preceded it. The first twentythree chapters paragraphs seem to form a type of introduction, making many claims while also laying out his methodology and some key concepts or themes. The history of the peloponnesian war by thucydides, 1950. The history of the peloponnesian war by thucydides, 1950 online research library.
In fine, i have written my work, not as an essay which is to win the applause of the. Thucydides and the history of the peloponnesian war. Youve also chosen five other books to help understand and put him in perspective. The history of the peloponnesian war by thucydides written 431 b. In contrast thucydides was the first to write a wholly secular history, assigning causation to psychology and social factors rather than to divine interventions. Thucydides has been called the greatest historian of all time, with reason. Harold north fowler, commentary on thucydides book 5, character and duration of the time of peace between the first and second war. Thucydides, history of the peloponnesian war, book iv, chapter 40. The same thucydides of athens continued the history, following the order of events, which he 67 reckoned by summers and winters, up to the destruction of the athenian empire and the taking of piraeus and the long walls by the lacedaemonians and their allies.
Thucydides books list of books by author thucydides. In thucydides, the war found an author of meticulous standard and dedication who created a work that still resonates in the disciplines of history, international relations, and political science. What thucydides teaches us about war, politics, and the. Through the use of numerous interviews, tirelessly researching records, and gathering a great deal of evidence, thucydides history of the peloponnesian war stands as perhaps the first great work of nonfiction in western history.
It was written by thucydides, an athenian historian who also served as an. The tale is told by a great political thinker, whose penetrating insight and dramatic power caused macaulay to call him the. As such, he began to write the history at the onset of the war in 431. History of the peloponnesian war summary gradesaver. Although unfinished and as a whole unrevised, in brilliance of description and depth of insight this history has no superior. Whilst herodotus, a nearcontemporary of his, is often hailed as the father of history, thucydides himself has been dubbed the father of scientific history.
See all books authored by thucydides, including history of the peloponnesian war, and on justice, power and human nature. To begin with, thucydidess book was the first history in the modern sense. Books four and five on your list are both histories written by fellow ancient greeks. Herodotus had come earlier, of course, but gods and spirits took a leading role in his accounts.
Thucydides writing styles in history of the peloponnesian war. The narrative qualities of thucydidess historical account. The hellenica is xenophons continuation of thucydides history of the peloponnesian war, literally resuming from where the previous authors history was abruptly left unfinished and narrating the events of the final seven years of the conflict and the wars aftermath. This is due to the methods that thucydides employed whilst writing his history of the peloponnesian war. The book concludes with an insightful discussion of thucydides as a thinker and philosophic historian. Thucydides gave amazing insight into war that shook the. Speeches play an important role in thucydides history, but remember. Thucydides was one of the best authors of history i have ever read, but the narrative and the way he writes is not very suitable for a audiobook without having studied the ancient greeks and this book before. The reinvention of history by donald kagan goodreads. In fact, he sought to transform the experience of his life into a story of such heroic pathos that it would stand high on the ridgeline. His history of the peloponnesian war set a standard for scope, concision and accuracy that makes it a defining text of the historical genre. Thucydidess history of the peloponnesian war breaks off before the story is over. After detailing the armed conflict between the athenians and the spartans and their respective allies between 431 and 404 bce, the eightbook text ends abruptly in the middle of a chapter as if, one day, the writer simply dropped his pen and left his desk, never to return. The trump team is obsessing over thucydides, the ancient historian who wrote a seminal tract on war.
Why we should care about him, two and a half thousand years later. Indeed, several passages of thucydides book are written with an intensity of. Thucydides, greatest of ancient greek historians and author of the history of the peloponnesian war, which recounts the struggle between athens and sparta in the 5th century bc. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of history of the peloponnesian war by thucydides. My only substantial complaint is that the book does not include maps. The history of the peloponnesian war by thucydides is a joy to read because it is so well structured and written, even though it is several thousand years old.
How close they are to the presumed originals what pericles and the others actually said, or even if they are close at. Thucydides has 383 books on goodreads with 73279 ratings. Thucydides quotes author of history of the peloponnesian war. Why the white house is reading greek history politico magazine. But before we get to those, can you tell me who thucydides was. Thucydides chronicle of the disastrous 27year conflict between the greek citystates resonates with tales of heroism and villainy, deeds of courage and desperation, and the eternal folly of human nature. This book by donald kagan is not so much a biography of thucydides as it is a critical analysis of thucydides history. After detailing the armed conflict between the athenians and the spartans and their respective allies between. Thucydides, son of olorus from halimous, the author of the text, was also a participant in the military conflict. Thucydides, history of the peloponnesian war, book v. Book i, chapter 1all quotes from the translation by thomas hobbes thucydides begins his history with a bangthis is a man confident in himself and his story. A prominent theme can be found in book 2 chapter 53, in which, thucydides describes athens after it had been hit with a devastating plague. Project gutenberg s the history of the peloponnesian war, by thucydides this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever.
Kagans thesis is that thucydides revised the thinking thucydides wrote a history of the peloponnesian war between athens and sparta and. The greek historian and general thucydides wanted his history of the. A fragment of the fourth book of the history of the peloponnesian war. Thucydides of athens, one of the greatest of historians, was born about 471 bce. The best books on thucydides five books expert recommendations.
But we need to see that thucydides was not writing history. Thucydides the history of the peloponnesian war book 1. The history of the peloponnesian war continued to be modified well beyond the end of the war in 404, as exemplified by a reference at book i. You may copy it, give it away or reuse it under the terms of the project gutenberg license included with this ebook or online at. With diligence and reflection, readers can discern relevant lessons and wisdom from thucydidess the history of the peloponnesian war. My book was not meant to meet the tastes of an immediate public, but was done to last forever. M i finley written four hundred years before the birth of christ, this detailed contemporary account of the long lifeanddeath struggle between athens an sparta stands an excellent chance of fulfilling its. Thucydides was an athenian general and historian, most notable for his work known as the history of the peloponnesian war.
This book is a concise, readable introduction to the greek author thucydides, who is widely regarded as one of the foremost historians of all time. Thucydides is generally regarded as one of the first true historians. Oct 29, 2009 this book by donald kagan is not so much a biography of thucydides as it is a critical analysis of thucydides history. The state of greece from the earliest times to the commencement of the peloponnesian war.
It was written by thucydides, an athenian historian who also served as an athenian general during. Thucydides, history of the peloponnesian war my work is not a piece of writing designed to meet the taste of an immediate public, but was done to last forever. The publication of the first book very quickly convinced me of my error. Buy a cheap copy of history of the peloponnesian war. Recently however, certain scholars have begun to doubt the. He kept to a strict chronological scheme, and, where it can be accurately tested by the eclipses that he mentions, it fits closely. Why the white house is reading greek history politico. History of the peloponnesian warbook 6 wikisource, the. He is often considered to be the founder of rigorous historical. Thucydides writing styles in history of the peloponnesian. Morris, commentary on thucydides book 1, introduction. Thucydides is often cited as the father of realism in international relations. In short, zagorins book provides an excellent introduction to thucydides and his history, and to the questions and controversies that have long animated thucydidean scholarship. This facet of the work suggests that thucydides died whilst writing his history and more so, that his death was unexpected.
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